Method of using visual separators to indicate additional character combination choices on a handheld electronic device and associated apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method and associated apparatus for using visual separators to indicate additional character combination choices from a disambiguation function on a handheld electronic device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The instant application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/588,581 filed on Nov. 10, 2006, entitled “Method of UsingVisual Separators to Indicate Additional Character Combination Choiceson a Handheld Electronic Device and Associated Apparatus,” the contentsof which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosed and claimed concept relates generally to handheldelectronic devices that employ a text disambiguation function and, moreparticularly, to an improved method of displaying character combinationchoices that are generated by a text disambiguation function on thehandheld electronic device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known. Examples ofsuch handheld devices include, for instance, personal data assistants(PDAs), handheld computers, two-way pagers, cellular telephones, and thelike. Many handheld electronic devices also feature wirelesscommunication capability, although many such handheld devices arestand-alone devices that are functional without communication with otherdevices.

Such handheld electronic devices are generally intended to be portable,and thus are of a relatively compact configuration in which keys andother input structures often perform multiple functions under certaincircumstances or may otherwise have multiple aspects or featuresassigned thereto. With advances in technology, handheld electronicdevices are built to have progressively smaller form factors yet haveprogressively greater numbers of applications and features residentthereon. As a practical matter, the keys of a keypad can only be reducedto a certain small size before the keys become relatively unusable.

One way of providing numerous letters in a small space has been toprovide a “reduced keyboard” in which multiple letters, symbols, and/ordigits, and the like, are assigned to any given key. For example, atouch-tone telephone includes a reduced keyboard by providing twelvekeys, of which ten have digits thereon, and of these ten keys, eighthave letters assigned thereto. For instance, one of the keys includesthe digit “2” as well as the letters “A”, “B”, and “C” assigned thereto.Since a single actuation of such a key potentially could be intended bythe user to refer to any of the letters “A”, “B”, and “C”, andpotentially could also be intended to refer to the digit “2”, the input(by actuation of the key) generally is an ambiguous input and is in needof some type of disambiguation in order to be useful for text entrypurposes.

In order to enable a user to make use of the multiple letters, digits,and the like on any given key in a reduced keyboard, a software-basedtext disambiguation function is utilized. In such a system, a usertypically presses keys to which one or more characters have beenassigned, generally pressing each key one time for each desired letter,and the disambiguation software attempts to disambiguate the intendedinput. One example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/931,281, entitled “Handheld Electronic DeviceWith Text Disambiguation,” the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference. As is known, many such systems display an outputcomponent as the user is typing (pressing keys) that includes a list ofpossible intended input character strings (i.e., possibleinterpretations of what the user intended while typing) that aregenerated by the disambiguation software.

In many current software-based text disambiguation systems, an outputcomponent, which includes the list of possible intended inputs that isgenerated by the disambiguation software, is output on the display ofthe handheld electronic device. A problem arises when the length of apossible intended input is so large that the remaining possible intendedinputs cannot fit on the display. Additionally, another problem alsoarises when the number of possible intended inputs is so high that allof the possible intended inputs cannot fit on the display. In thesesituations, the list is typically split and the user must take someadditional action, such as scrolling a thumbwheel or pressing apredetermined function button, to move from one possible intended inputto the next possible intended input. The shortcoming with currentsystems, however, is that the indicators, which indicate that there areadditional possible intended inputs beyond the one possible intendedinput that is currently being displayed, do not adequately tell the userwhere the additional possible intended inputs are located in relation tothe possible intended input that is currently being displayed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the disclosed and claimed concept can be gainedfrom the following description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of an improved handheldelectronic device in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept;

FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of the handheld electronic device ofFIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 3A, and 3B depict each depict an output that can be generatedon the improved handheld electronic device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts another output that can be generated on the improvedhandheld electronic device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting one embodiment of an improved method inaccordance with the disclosed and claimed concept.

DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the phrase “a number of” or variations thereof means oneor an integer greater than one.

As used herein, the phrase “alphanumeric” or variations thereof shallbroadly refer to a letter, such as a Latin letter, and/or a digit suchas, without limitation, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, and combinationsthereof.

Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example, upper, lower,left, right, vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, above, beneath,clockwise, counterclockwise and derivatives thereof, relate to theorientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limitingupon the claims unless expressly recited therein.

One embodiment of a handheld electronic device 2 in accordance with thedisclosed and claimed concept is depicted generally in FIG. 1. Thehandheld electronic device 2 of FIG. 1 is depicted schematically in FIG.2. The handheld electronic device 2 includes a housing 4 upon which aredisposed a processor unit that includes an input apparatus 6, an outputapparatus 8, a processor 10, a memory 12, and a wireless transceiver 13.The processor 10 may be, for instance, and without limitation, amicroprocessor (μP) and is responsive to inputs from the input apparatus6 and provides output signals to the output apparatus 8. The processor10 also interfaces with the memory 12 which, as will be discussed ingreater detail below, contains one or more routines that are used toimplement the disclosed and claimed concept. The processor 10 and thememory 12 together form a processor apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 1, the input apparatus 6 includes a keypad 14 and anavigational input member 16. The keypad 14 is in the exemplary form ofa reduced QWERTY keyboard including a plurality of keys 18 that serve asinput members. Many of the keys 18 each have a plurality of charactersassigned thereto. The keypad 14 also includes an <ALT> key 20, an<ENTER> key 22, and a <SPACE> key 23. It is noted, however, that thekeypad 14 may be of other configurations, such as an AZERTY keyboard, aQWERTY keyboard, a QWERTZ keyboard or another keyboard arrangement,whether or not reduced, and whether presently known or unknown.

The keys 18 are located on a front face 24 of the housing 4, and thenavigational input member 16, which is in the exemplary form a trackball36, is disposed on the front face 24 of the housing 4 as well. Thetrackball 36 is rotatable in various directions thereby allowing for thenavigation of the cursor 32, which is displayed on the output apparatus8, in various directions including up, down, left, right, and anycombination thereof. Moreover, the trackball 36 can also be depressed toprovide a selection or other input based upon the current location ofthe cursor 32. Accordingly, rotation of the trackball 36 can navigatethe cursor 32 over a particular program icon 34, while depression of thetrackball 36 can launch the program. It should be noted that atrackwheel (not shown), which can be disposed on a side 26 of thehousing 4, can be used in lieu of the trackball 36. Similar to thetrackball, the trackwheel can serve as input member since the trackwheelis capable of being rotated in a clockwise or a counterclockwisedirection as well as being depressed. Rotation of the trackwheel canprovide a navigation or other input, while depression of the trackwheelcan provide a selection or other input. For example, if a cursor 32 islocated over a given program icon 34, that program will be launched whenthe trackwheel is depressed.

Referring to FIG. 2, the memory 12 can be any of a variety of types ofinternal and/or external storage media such as, without limitation, RAM,ROM, EPROM(s), EEPROM(s), and the like that provide a storage registerfor data storage such as in the fashion of an internal storage area of acomputer, and can be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory. As can beseen from FIG. 2, the memory 12 is in electronic communication with theprocessor 10. The memory 12 additionally can include one or moreroutines depicted generally with the numeral 38 for the processing ofdata. The routines 38 can be in any of a variety of forms such as,without limitation, software, firmware, and the like.

The output apparatus 8 includes a display 40 upon which can be providedan output 42. A number of exemplary outputs 42 are depicted on thedisplay 40 in FIGS. 3, 3A, and 3B. Each exemplary output 42 includes atext component 44 and a variant component 46. As can be seen from thesefigures, the variant component 46 extends substantially horizontallyacross the display 40. This, however, is not meant to be limiting sincethe variant component 46 can also extend across the display 40substantially vertically or can be otherwise disposed. Preferably, thevariant component 46 is located generally in the vicinity of the textcomponent 44. Referring to FIGS. 3, 3A, and 3B, the variant component 46includes a selectable output 48 that can be selected by the user forpossible output on the output apparatus 8 of the handheld electronicdevice 2. The display 40 also includes a caret (cursor) 50 in the textcomponent 44 which depicts generally where the next output will bedisplayed.

As stated above, a shortcoming of current disambiguation systems is thatindicators, which indicate that there are additional possible intendedinputs beyond the one or more possible intended inputs that arecurrently being displayed, do not adequately tell the user of thehandheld electronic device 2 where the additional possible intendedinputs may be found.

The disclosed concept enables the handheld electronic device 2 toovercome this shortcoming by having a routine 38 that is adapted todisplay a single visual separator which not only represents thatadditional subsets of the list of possible intended inputs (charactercombination choices) are displayable on the output apparatus 8 of thehandheld electronic device 2 in response to the handheld electronicdevice 2 detecting a navigational input in a particular direction, butit also represents the direction in which the additional subsets may befound.

By way of example, referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 3A, and 3B, when thelanguage that is currently operative on the handheld electronic deviceis German and the user actuates the keys 18 on the handheld electronicdevice 2 that correspond to “mannerfantasien”, the disambiguationfunction of the handheld electronic device 2 will generate a list ofthree possible intended inputs in response to the detected ambiguous keysequence. The three possible intended inputs are as follows: (1)männerfantasien (hereinafter, referred to as the first subset), (2)männredabyssieb (hereinafter, referred to as the second subset), and (3)männredabyssien (hereinafter, referred to as the third subset). Thevariant component 46, however, is unable to contain all three possibleintended inputs simultaneously due to the length of each possibleintended input. Accordingly, the handheld electronic device 2 willdisplay only one possible intended input (i.e., a subset of the threepossible inputs) within the variant component 46 at any one time. Itshould be noted, however, that despite FIGS. 3, 3A, and 3B depicting onepossible intended input, in its entirety, being displayed within thevariant component 36, there may be instances when only a portion of thepossible intended input is displayed within the variant component 46.

Continuing with FIG. 3, upon detecting the ambiguous key sequence thatcorresponds with “mannerfantasien”, the handheld electronic device 2will display “männerfantasien” within the variant component 46 as wellas in the text component 44. As stated above, the variant component 46is unable to simultaneously contain all of the possible intended inputs.Therefore, in order to assist the user in data entry, a first visualseparator 52 is displayed in the variant component 46 that allows theuser to ascertain whether or not there are additional subsets availableand where the additional subsets may be found. It should be noted thatdespite FIG. 3 depicting the first visual separator 52 as being locatedin the variant component 46, the first visual separator 52 can belocated anywhere on the display 40. The first visual separator 52represents that additional possible intended inputs are displayablewithin the variant component 46, in place of the first subset, if thehandheld electronic device 2 detects a navigational input in a firstdirection. That is, the first visual separator 52 visually separates anobject that is being output on the display 40 from another object,whether or not the another object is also being currently output on thedisplay 40. In the embodiment that is depicted in FIG. 3, the firstvisual separator 52 is a graphic 54 having a portion 56 that iselongated vertically and a pointing portion 58 that points horizontallytowards the first direction. The elongated portion 56 of first visualseparator 52 is also positioned adjacent a first end 60 of the firstsubset which is indicative of a navigational input in a first direction.That is, the first visual separator 52 is positioned in the firstdirection with respect to the first subset, and this provides anindication of the ability of a navigational input in the first directionto retrieve additional character combination choices that areundisplayed but are logically disposed in the first direction withrespect to the first subset. Accordingly, when the handheld electronicdevice 2 detects a navigational input from the trackball 36 to the“right” or a clockwise rotation of a trackwheel (if a trackwheel isbeing used as the navigational input member 16), either of which wouldbe an input in the first direction, the handheld electronic device 2will replace “männerfantasien” with the second subset,“männredabyssieb”, in addition to replacing the first visual separator52 with a second visual separator 62.

Continuing with FIG. 3A, as can be seen from this figure,“männerfantasien” has been replaced with “männredabyssieb” in thevariant component 46 as well as in the text component 44. Moreover, thefirst visual separator 52 has been replaced with the second visualseparator 62 which comprises a first component 64 and a second component66. The first component 64 comprises a portion 68 that is elongatedvertically and a pointing portion 70 that points horizontally towardsthe first direction. Moreover, the first component 64 is also positionedadjacent a first end 71, i.e., the terminus, of the second subset whichis indicative of a navigational input in the first direction. The secondcomponent 66 comprises a portion 72 that is elongated vertically and apointing portion 74 that points horizontally towards a second direction.Unlike the first component 64, the second component 66 is positionedadjacent a second end 76, i.e., the beginning, of the second subsetwhich is indicative of a navigational input in the second direction.Similar to the first visual separator 52, the first component 64 of thesecond visual separator 62 represents that additional possible intendedinputs are displayable within the variant component 46 if the handheldelectronic device 2 detects a navigational input in the first direction.However, unlike the first visual separator 52, the second component 66of the second visual separator 62 also represents that the first subsetcan be displayable within the variant component 46 if the handheldelectronic device 2 detects a navigational input in a second direction.Specifically, the second visual separator 62 represents that a thirdsubset is displayable within the variant component 46, in place of thesecond subset, if the handheld electronic device 2 detects anavigational input in the first direction (i.e., to the “right”) whilethe first subset is displayable within the variant component 46, inplace of the second subset, if the handheld electronic device 2 detectsa navigational input in the second direction to the “left”). That is,the first component 64 is positioned in the first direction with respectto the second subset, and this provides an indication of the ability ofa navigational input in the first direction to retrieve additionalcharacter combination choices that are undisplayed but are logicallydisposed in the first direction with respect to the second subset.Moreover, the second component 66 is positioned in the second directionwith respect to the second subset, and this provides an indication ofthe ability of a navigational input in the second direction to retrieveadditional character combination choices that are undisplayed but arelogically disposed in the second direction with respect to the secondsubset.

Upon detecting a navigational input to the “right” or a clockwiserotation of the trackwheel, the handheld electronic device 2 willdisplay the third subset in place of the second subset. Specifically,“männredabyssieb” will be replaced with the third subset,“männredabyssien”, in both the variant component 46 and the textcomponent 44 (see FIG. 3B). When this occurs, the second visualseparator 62 will also be replaced with a third visual separator 78.

Alternatively, if the handheld electronic device 2 detects anavigational input to the “left” or a counterclockwise rotation of thetrackwheel, either of which would provide a navigational input in thesecond direction, then the handheld electronic device 2 will replace“männredabyssieb” with the first subset, “männerfantasien”, in additionto replacing the second visual separator 58 with the first visualseparator 52.

Continuing with FIG. 3B, as can be seen from this figure,“männredabyssieb” has been replaced with the third subset,“männredabyssien”, in the variant component 46 as well as in the textcomponent 44 because the handheld electronic device 2 detected anavigational input in the first direction. Additionally, the secondvisual separator 62 has been replaced with a third visual separator 78which comprises a portion 80 that is elongated vertically and a pointingportion 82 that points horizontally towards the second direction. As canbe seen from this figure, the third visual separator 78 is positionedadjacent a second end 84 of the third subset which is indicative of anavigational input in the second direction. The third visual separator78 represents that the second subset is displayable within the variantcomponent 46 in place of the third subset if the handheld electronicdevice 2 detects a navigational input in the second direction. Moreover,the third visual separator 78 also represents that “männredabyssien” isthe final choice among the possible intended inputs by not havinganother component positioned adjacent a first end 86 of the thirdsubset.

Upon detecting a navigational input to the “left” or a counterclockwiserotation of the trackwheel, the handheld electronic device 2 willreplace “männredabyssien” with the second subset, “männredabyssieb”, inthe both the variant component 46 and the text component 44 (see FIG.3A). Additionally, the third visual separator 78 will be replaced withthe second visual separator 62.

Alternatively, if the handheld electronic device 2 detects anavigational input to the “right” or a clockwise rotation of thetrackwheel, then the handheld electronic device 2 will replace“männredabyssien” with the first subset, “männerfantasien”, in both thevariant component 46 and the text component 44 in addition to replacingthe third visual separator 78 with the first visual separator 52. Inother words, a navigational input to the “right” or a clockwise rotationof the trackwheel enables the user to continuously scroll through thesubsets.

It should be noted that in FIGS. 3, 3A, and 3B, a language indicator 88is provided in the variant component 46. The language indicator 88 isrepresentative of a language that is currently operable on the handheldelectronic device 2. In these figures, “DE” represents that German isthe language that is currently operative on the handheld electronicdevice 2.

It should also be noted that in other embodiments, the first, second,and third visual indicator 52, 62, 78 may not have their respectivepointing portions 58, 70, 74, 82.

Referring to FIG. 4, in yet another embodiment, the first subset couldcomprise a plurality of alternative character choices wherein each pairof adjacent alternative character combination choices is separated by avisual separator 92 having a common appearance to the first visualseparator 52. In this particular embodiment, the variant component 46does not have a language indicator 88 and the first visual separator 52comprises only a portion 56 that is vertically elongated.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting one embodiment of the disclosed concept.As can be seen from this figure, the handheld electronic device 2 willdetect an input at step 100. The handheld electronic device 2 will thendetermine whether the detected input was an alphanumeric input at step102.

If the handheld electronic device 2 does determine at step 102 that thedetected input was an alphanumeric input, then the handheld electronicdevice 2 will generate a number of character combination choices basedon the detected alphanumeric input using the text disambiguationfunction of the handheld electronic device 2 at step 104. The handheldelectronic device 2 will then display an output that comprises a subsetof the character combination choices in addition to a first visualseparator 52 at step 106. For example, referring to FIG. 3, the handheldelectronic device 2 would display the first subset, “männerfantasien”,in addition to the first visual separator 52 in response to determiningat step 102 that the detected input was an alphanumeric input.Continuing with FIG. 5, after the output has been displayed at step 106,the handheld electronic device 2 will then return to step 100.

If the handheld electronic device 2 determines that the detected inputis not an alphanumeric input, then the handheld electronic device 2 willdetermine whether the detected input is a navigational input in a firstdirection at step 108. If the handheld electronic device 2 doesdetermine that the detected input is a navigational input in the firstdirection at step 108, then the handheld electronic device 2 willdisplay an output that comprises the next subset of the charactercombination choices as well as the next visual separator. For example,referring to FIG. 3A, the handheld electronic device 2 would display thesecond subset, “männredabyssieb”, in place of the first subset inaddition to displaying the second visual separator 62 in place of thefirst visual separator 52. After the output has been displayed at step110, the handheld electronic device 2 will return to step 100.

The handheld electronic device 2 will then detect yet another input atstep 100. Responsive to detecting the input, the handheld electronicdevice 2 will determine whether the detected input was an alphanumericinput at step 102. If the handheld electronic device 2 determines thatthe input detected at step 102 is not an alphanumeric input, then thehandheld electronic device 2 will determine whether the detected inputis a navigational input in a first direction at step 108.

If the handheld electronic device 2 does determine that the detectedinput is a navigational input in the first direction at step 108, thenthe handheld electronic device 2 will display an output that comprisesthe next subset of the character combination choices as well as the nextvisual separator. For example, referring to FIG. 3B, the handheldelectronic device 2 would display the third subset, “männredabyssien”,in place of the second subset in addition to displaying the third visualseparator 78 in place of the second visual separator 62. After theoutput has been displayed at step 110, the handheld electronic device 2will go to step 100.

Alternatively, if the handheld electronic device 2 determines that thedetected input is not a navigational input in the first direction atstep 108, then the handheld electronic device will determine whether thedetected input was a navigational input in a second direction at step112.

If the handheld electronic device 2 does determine that the detectedinput is a navigational input in the second direction at step 112, thenthe handheld electronic device 2 will display an output that comprisesthe prior subset and the prior visual separator at step 114. Forexample, referring to FIG. 3A, the handheld electronic device 2 woulddisplay the second subset, “männredabyssieb”, in place of the thirdsubset in addition to displaying the second visual separator 62 in placeof the third visual separator 78. After the output has been displayed atstep 110, the handheld electronic device 2 will return to step 100.

Alternatively, if the handheld electronic device 2 determines that thedetected input was not a navigational input in the second direction atstep 112, then the handheld electronic device 2 will take other actionsuch as, without limitation, determining whether the detected input wasa selection input at step 116.

While specific embodiments of the disclosed and claimed concept havebeen described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that various modifications and alternatives to those details couldbe developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure.Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to beillustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the disclosed andclaimed concept which is to be given the full breadth of the claimsappended and any and all equivalents thereof.

1. A method of enabling input on a handheld electronic device, saidhandheld electronic device including an input apparatus and an outputapparatus, said input apparatus having a plurality of input members anda navigational input member, said method comprising: detecting a firstinput; responsive to said detecting a first input, generating a numberof character combination choices based on said first input; responsiveto said generating, displaying a variant component and a first visualseparator, said variant component comprising a first subset of saidnumber of character combination choices, said first visual separatorindicating the availability of a second subset of said number ofcharacter combination choices in response to a navigational input in afirst direction, said first visual separator being located adjacent anend of said first subset; detecting a navigational input in said firstdirection; and responsive to said detecting the navigational input,displaying within said variant component said second subset anddisplaying a second visual separator having a first component and asecond component, said first component indicating the availability of athird subset of said number of character combination choices in responseto a navigational input in said first direction, said second componentindicating the availability of said first subset in response to anavigational input in a second direction, said first component beinglocated adjacent a first end of said second subset, and said secondcomponent being located adjacent a second end of said second subset. 2.The method according to claim 1, further comprising: detecting anothernavigational input in said first direction; displaying within saidvariant component said third subset; and displaying a third visualseparator indicating said second subset being displayable in saidvariant component in place of at least a portion of said third subset inresponse to a navigational input in said second direction.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 2, further comprising: detecting another navigationalinput in said first direction; and redisplaying within said variantcomponent at least a portion of said first subset in place of at least aportion of said third subset, and displaying said first visualseparator.
 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said second endof said third subset is disposed in said second direction with respectto said third subset.
 5. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising displaying as said first visual separator a graphic having aportion that is elongated in a vertical direction.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising displaying as said first visualseparator a graphic having a portion that is elongated in a verticaldirection and a pointing portion that points horizontally towards saidfirst direction.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said firstend of said first subset is disposed in said first direction withrespect to said first subset.
 8. The method according to claim 1,further comprising; displaying as said first component of said secondvisual separator a graphic having a portion that is elongated in avertical direction and a first pointing portion that points horizontallytowards said first direction; and displaying as said second component ofsaid second visual separator a graphic having a portion that iselongated in said vertical direction and a second pointing portion thatpoints horizontally towards said second direction.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said first subset comprises a plurality ofalternative character combination choices, said method furthercomprising displaying a visual separator between each adjacent pair ofalternative character combination choices.
 10. The method according toclaim 9, further comprising: displaying as each of said first visualseparator, said first component of said second visual separator, saidsecond component of said second visual separator, and said visualseparator between each adjacent pair of alternative charactercombination choices a graphic having a common visual appearance.
 11. Ahandheld electronic device, comprising; a keyboard having a plurality ofinput members including a navigational input member; a display; aprocessor apparatus having stored therein a number of routines which,when executed, cause said handheld electronic device to performoperations comprising: detecting a first input; responsive to saiddetecting a first input, generating a number of character combinationchoices based on said first input; responsive to said generating,displaying a variant component and a first visual separator, saidvariant component comprising a first subset of said number of charactercombination choices, said first visual separator indicative of theavailability of a second subset of said number of character combinationchoices in response to a navigational input in a first direction, saidfirst visual separator being located adjacent an end of said firstsubset; detecting a navigational input in said first direction; andresponsive to said detecting the navigational input, displaying withinsaid variant component said second subset and displaying a second visualseparator having a first component and a second component, said firstcomponent indicative of the availability of a third subset of saidnumber of character combination choices in response to a navigationalinput in said first direction, said second component indicative of theavailability of said first subset in response to a navigational input ina second direction, said first component being located adjacent a firstend of said second subset, and said second component being locatedadjacent a second end of said second subset.
 12. The handheld electronicdevice according to claim 11, wherein said number of routines cause saidhandheld electronic device to perform operations further comprising:detecting another navigational input in said first direction; displayingwithin said variant component said third subset; and displaying a thirdvisual separator indicative of said second subset being displayable insaid variant component in place of at least a portion of said thirdsubset responsive to a navigational input in said second direction. 13.The handheld electronic device according to claim 12, wherein saidnumber of routines cause said handheld electronic device to performoperations further comprising: detecting as another input a navigationalinput in said first direction; and redisplaying within said variantcomponent at least a portion of said first subset in place of at least aportion of said third subset, and displaying said first visualseparator.
 14. The handheld electronic device according to claim 12,wherein said second end of said third subset is disposed in said seconddirection with respect to said third subset.
 15. The handheld electronicdevice according to claim 12, wherein said third visual separatorcomprises a graphic having a portion that is elongated in a verticaldirection.
 16. The handheld electronic device according to claim 11,wherein said first visual separator comprises a graphic having a portionthat is elongated in a vertical direction, and a pointing portion thatpoints horizontally towards said first direction.
 17. The handheldelectronic device according to claim 11, wherein said first end of saidfirst subset is disposed in said first direction with respect to saidfirst subset.
 18. The handheld electronic device according to claim 11,wherein said first component of said second visual separator comprises agraphic having a portion that is elongated in a vertical direction and afirst pointing portion that points horizontally towards said firstdirection and wherein said second component of said second visualseparator comprises a graphic having a portion that is elongated in avertical direction and a second pointing portion that pointshorizontally towards said second direction.
 19. The method according toclaim 11, wherein said first subset comprises a plurality of alternativecharacter combination choices, and wherein said number of routines causesaid handheld electronic device to perform operations furthercomprising: displaying a visual separator between each adjacent pair ofalternative character combination choices.
 20. The method according toclaim 11, wherein each of said first visual separator, said firstcomponent of said second visual separator, said second component of saidsecond visual separator, and said visual separator comprise a graphichaving a common visual appearance.